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    China expands visa-free entry to more than 70 countries to boost tourism, economy
    Futurology

    China expands visa-free entry to more than 70 countries to boost tourism, economy

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    1. upyoars on

      > Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to **unprecedented levels**. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations.

      > More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 — almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration. “This really helps people to travel because it is such a **hassle to apply for a visa** and go through the process,” Giorgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

      > In December 2023, China announced visa-free entry for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Almost **all of Europe has been added since then**. Travelers from five Latin American countries and Uzbekistan became eligible last month, followed by four in the Middle East. The total will grow to 75 on July 16 with the addition of Azerbaijan.

      > About two-thirds of the countries have been granted visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis. Those from 10 countries not in the visa-free scheme have another option: entering China for up to 10 days if they depart for a different country than the one they came from. It does offer a more restrictive option for citizens of the 10 countries that aren’t: the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Indonesia, Canada, **the U.S.** and Mexico.

    2. Average64 on

      Heh, this is totally a move to get the tourists that were planning to visit America.

    4. jellyfish_bee on

      In a growing economy, countries don’t have to “beg” for tourists, they attract them easily But this China sudden move to expand visa free access to over 70 countries feels more like desperation. While they loosen travel rules at same time they are tightening censorship, restricting money from leaving the country, and watching foreign companies pack up and leave. China CCP growth model is stalling, and they’re running out of options,

    5. advator on

      Because it’s about tourist, I hope nobody goes.

      Xi is supporting Russia not only with words but also with tech. They already admit that they want Russia to succeed. So FCK Xi ping. He also want Russia to invade NATO Europe when it’s invading Taiwan.

      Don’t forget Russia already has killed 400k people in Ukraine. 8 times more as Gaza and still upscaling the terrorist attack, feeded by Iran with drones, North Korea with ammunition and China with insides and technology.

      Slava Ukraine!!

    6. boomer959 on

      Meanwhile, another country adds 250$ “visa integrity fees” to the visa application fees…

    7. happy_hawking on

      Last time I had a stop over in Shanghai, they first collected all my personal data and then told me that I’m not allowed to leave the airport if the stopover is less than 24 h. It was 22 h. I had to spend 22 h in the most boring airport of all times because half of the shops are closed and the other half sells expensive cigars and alcohol. It took me 2 hours to find the only restaurant that was still open.

      This is not how you treat guests. I will never visit Winnie Pooh again.